Sunday, February 15, 2015

Loose Ends

It's very rare that I'm at a loss for things to do. But today, what with it being -40C with the windchill (that's where Fahrenheit and Celsius merge, btw), I am utterly disinclined to run my errands. Scott and M are off to visit his parents in the suburbs which means I am free! But I'm not particularly motivated to sew or to make potions. Sure, there's going to be some nut-blending experimentation on the agenda, but that won't occupy me for long.

I might opt to cook something - given the sieve-like properties of my century home, it's never a bad idea to run the oven for a few hours. But it's not so fun to cook just for myself. (Mind you, I could bake...)

I know that there will be a robust session of MELT/Yoga Tune Up in my afternoon, if nothing else to undo the damage of recent knitting. What? Knitting in the same sentence as damage? How can this be?

Look, I LOVE knitting. I have been very sad (massive understatement) to forgo this meditative activity, which produces entirely pragmatic, lovely and impressive end results. I've got a half-finished sweater on the needles and I want to wear it. But I've discovered, having knitted now twice in the last week (after a 3 month break), that while it's not causing my pain (neck, head, upper back), it is likely exacerbating it. I've knitted over two, non-consecutive sessions, each lasting as long as it takes to work 12 rows of a sweater. Well, I stopped every 2 rows to MELT my arms and hands and to do stretches of my neck and shoulders so, what would have taken me an hour previously, currently takes me an evening. Not to mention that I spend all of my attention trying to amend my knitting "gait" to be as ergonomic, for my body, as possible. People, this is not efficient.

I don't really know how to proceed. I'm not giving up on knitting. I mean, what else does one do on a trans-Atlantic flight or a train trip to Mtl or while waiting to see the doctor? I feel strangely bereft. I sense that, as my pain resolves with the support of my many treatment methods (more to come), I'll have that much more agency when it comes to this craft. So I guess I'm playing it by ear (and regularly putting the instrument down), a scenario with which I am entirely uncomfortable but then, I've made my peace with discomfort in the last couple of years.

Today's questions: I know that some of you have given up on knitting due to the pain it caused (RSI, for example). I'd love to know how you came to your decision. And for those of you who knit - do you suffer for it? Have you found yourself at this crossroads? But let's not leave the non-knitters out of the equation. Those of you who experience regular or chronic pain, have you given up activities you love in the name of ensuring that your body isn't under undue pressure. Let's talk!

20 comments:

I have carpal tunnel. It's not super serious but results in bad sleeping as my hands go numb and then I get.pins and needles. Knitting definitely makes it worse or triggers it (altho other things do too - carrying heavy stuff, diy especially painting). I need to take a break for a while when it flares up I am trying to do more crochet to see if that works better for me and I am thinking or switching from British to another style of knitting. So basically I have lots more questions and no real answers for you! But I hope you find something that helps.

For me it's always been very obvious... and although I miss it consistently, knitting isnt' a viable option for me. It's like being lactose intolerant - people always used to say to me "Oh, I love cheese, I couldn't give it up!" but trust me, no matter how much you love cheese, if you are violently ill 20 minutes later, you'd stop eating it too! (Side note- I can eat cheese now! so maybe there is hope for knitting?) When my wrists were at their worst, I remember crying from the pain of holding a coffee cup on my commute. I couldn't cut through carrots with a knife, and i had to get my roommates to open cardboard food packages for me. After that it settled to a more manageable pain for 5 more years... and now it's an underlying concern that causes occasional discomfort at most as long as I behave. 2 years ago I thought maybe crocheting would use different motions and therefore be ok... I gleefully crocheted a single granny square each night for about 20 min/night for a week... and it took 2 or 3 weeks after that for the pain to dissappate! The problem for me is that the pain isn't bad when I'm doing something, but it's obvious after a day or more. Long story short, if you really can't knit at all, it'll be bloody obvious. If it's not that bad yet, then figure out what you can managabley do! Good luck!!!

I sense I might be getting a strong message to stop. My arms are still hurting a week later. Of course, I use the computer all the time which is probably using up all the latitude I have. Your experience is one I have to keep in mind. But I'm so happy you've resolved your issue (even if it means you cannot knit).

Is there anything to do to shift your posture while you knit---different chair, at a table, arms supported?---that might help relieve (or at least alternate) some of the strains?

I haven't had serious repetitive strain issues (yet), but after I started working at the fabric store my wrists really began to bother me. Fortunately I'm no longer there full time, but even with my day-job I found all the mouse work at the computer was aggravating my already-sore wrists in a way it never had before. So I trained myself to alternate which hand I use for the mouse, and I find this has really helped. I'm not quite sure how this might apply to knitting (and I suspect your issues wouldn't be solved just by switching your knitting to the left-handed version, even assuming your brain wiring permits it), but maybe it will spark something. Good luck!

Part of the issue is that I want to be with others and comfortable when I knit. I don't want to have to do it at the dining room table (for example). I don't want it to be difficult or it's not worth it. But I am considering ways of using my myofascial props (behind my back) to change the ergonomics while I knit. Just have to wait for the forearm pain to calm down... Thanks for your suggestions, T.

It's an issue, for sure. Compounded when I'm doing a lot of mousing and a lot of marking, so I try to switch things up if I can, use a different hand to mouse. Learned continental last year hoping that would help, and it did a bit. Also swap from small-needle dps to larger size circs to straights, etc. And stretch. And take rests. I'm sad and a bit anxious about it, though. I'd really hate to give it up!

I know. I tried continental again - since I'm knitting in the round it's all knit stitch, but my tension is SO loose while doing it that it's absurd. And it's visible when I switch back and forth. So that's not an option at the moment, it would seem. Here's hoping we come up with solutions we can share!

I guess for me part of it was figuring out what it was that I enjoy - the process or the product. If it's process - you don't care how long it takes to get something done, you just like having something to do with your hands - then I'd suggest trying smaller projects, lighter yarn/needles, switching it up between straights and circulars, and different techniques. If it's product that makes knitting fun for you, then you may want to look at something like a knitting machine to enable you to produce things like sweaters in a reasonable time frame without putting yourself into major pain.

Oh Kristin, this sounds so frustrating (especially on top of everything else). I do find that knitting can exacerbate pain in my right (mousing) wrist, especially at the end of a long day. I've been trying to watch for where I feel the pain, and how that relates to things like the way I'm sitting and what I'm knitting.

Finishing my last sweater was labour, and at the end, all the weight on the needles caused a lot of strain in my wrist and also across my shoulders and into my neck. I've since moved to knitting just socks, which are nice and light, and also seem to promote a better position for my wrist.

Have you tried knitting something besides your sweater? I know you tend to me monogamous, but maybe something lighter would help?

Oh I do feel your pain, having just written about something similar but far less serious and hopefully with a good outcome (Gillian sent me here). The only thing I can suggest is trying to learn to knit without looking - recently on the Crafting Sessions blog was a post about different techniques and how to learn faster - and her big tip was learning to knit without looking. I'm sorry I don't have the link.....

Gillian is a great networker - now must go to read your post... I do totally agree that knitting without looking is the way to go because when you look down you round your thoracic spine which leads to compression of the nerves which run through the arms. This is a new thing for me (the carpal tunnel) but my chiro told me it's not about my arms at all - but about the nerve compression from my mid back. And when she adjusted my back (using soft tissue technique - not cracking, she almost never does cracking) the swollen, pain in my arms diminished. Rounding the back to look down is akin to being on the computer, apparently.

Would a knitting belt (holds 1 needle) help? Sitting at a table with the work supported instead of in your lap? Put a pillow or 2 on your lap to support the work? Knit while reclining? I'm not much of a knitter, so I'm only going by what helps when my aches and pains act up while sewing - keep the work supported and raised up where I can see what I'm doing and change position. And for the slight carpal tunnel I have - don't keep a death-grip on the tools. Now if I could figure out something that slows down the shoulder/back/neck pains that start after about 1/2 hour at the kitchen counter. I've enjoyed seeing your knitting projects, I hope you get this figured out.

I LOVE knitting, too! I've got psoriatic arthritis and am still in the throes of finding treatment that works.

I knit for about 40 minutes over last weekend and my right shoulder has been in a knot since then :( Right now, I'm doing a lot of trial and error to see how much I can tolerate with knitting. Skinny yarns are out. Worsted or bulky only. Big needles (5mm and 6mm) seem to be OK.

As someone living with chronic pain, I empathize! Sending you virtual hugs from frozen Hamilton!

Feel Free to Email Me At

Here am I...

But Enough About Me...

Form/Function. Line/Curve. Safe/Risk. Art/Craft. Body/Mind.
Fashion intersects these. It's how we express what is popular in what is personal. It's where intellect debates sex; where soft and hard duke it out. So much mystery underpins beautiful things. So much confidence rests upon them. Discuss.